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December 2008

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Autry Receives
$1 Million Grant
By Kimberly Gomez
Ledger Contributing Writer

GRIFFITH PARK—The Autry National Center has received a $1 million grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation that will assist the museum with its expansion and renovation of its Griffith Park location and to help create state of the art facilities, according to Autry staff.
   The Foundation is also supporting the Autry’s “Adventures in Learning” program, an educational outreach effort for children and families in the community promoting the importance of understanding, respect, diversity, history, tradition and cultural convergence.
   “Bank of America supports the expansion and renovation of museums like the Autry as a way to continue revitalizing local communities while increasing access to arts and culture,” said Janet Lamkin, President, Bank of America California.

Bikram Yoga To Host 3rd Annual Toy Drive

ATWATER VILLAGE—Bikram Yoga Silverlake is hosting its 3rd annual toy drive for the 2008 holiday season.
   This year toys will be donated to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Those who bring in a new, unwrapped toy in its original packaging from Dec. 1st-Dec. 21st will receive 10% off a “monthly unlimited” or 15% off a “three month unlimited” or annual package.
   The toys will go to children, ranging in age from infants to teens, most of whom are confined to bed.
   All are welcome to donate and no purchase is necessary. Some restrictions apply. Bikram Yoga Silverlake, 3223 Glendale Blvd., in Atwater Village. www.bikramyogasilverlake.com. (323) 668-2500.

Seeing the Inside of L.A. from an Outsider’s Perspective
Martin Schall Returns to Los Angeles for the 12th Consecutive Year to Photograph our Iconic Architecture

Pictured are Neutra scholar Barbara Lamprecht, Donna Locke, Andre Goeritz, Andy Jelmert, Ginger Weatherford and Martin Schall at the Locke residence in Los Feliz on Nov. 4, 2008. Photo: Michael Locke.

By Michael Locke,
Silver Lake Correspondent

   Photographer Martin Schall, returned to Los Angeles in October for a three-week photo safari photographing our iconic architecture for the 12th consecutive year. My wife, Donna, and I had the pleasure of hosting Schall for eight days at our home in Los Feliz.
   Photo highlights from his stay include: the AIA/LA Los Feliz Home Tour (meeting architects Christopher Payne and James R. Meyer in the process); visiting architect Barbara Bestor at her new home in Los Feliz; and touring the Victor M. Carter Residence (designed by Milton J. Black in 1935, magnificently restored by owner/designer Esta Sullivan).
   Fellow realtor Crosby Doe arranged a visit to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Millard House (“La Miniatura”); Silver Lake Architect Sean Briski also accompanied us. Br. Stephen de la Rosa of the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God gave us the grand tour of the historic Villa Maria in West Adams; we also visited Christoph Kapeller (CK-architecture) at the USC School of Architecture.
   Schall, a resident of Stuttgart, Germany, has been documenting Los Angeles architecture on his website “you-are-here.com” since 1996.

BID Seeks Candidates for Upcoming Election

LOS FELIZ—Members of the Los Feliz Village business community are encouraged to run for a seat on the Los Feliz Village Business Improvement District board (BID).
   Elections for four seats will be in late December or January 2009. Terms are for two years.
   The BID—one of many throughout the city of Los Angeles—is a city-sponsored body responsible for the daily management and promotion of Los Feliz Village.
   Ballots for the election will be distributed to the BID’s current 270 members.
   Interested candidates should contact current BID president, Ermanno Neiviller at 662-5900 or vice president, Chris Serrano at 210-2405.

Silver Lake “Meadow” Gets Go-Ahead
By Kimberly Gomez, Ledger Contributing Writer

SILVER LAKE—Three and a half acres of land near the Silver Lake Reservoir that has been closed for decades, will officially kick off construction in 2009 to become a public park, after a lease agreement was finalized last month between the city departments involved in negotiations.
   The opening of the so-called “meadow” will end years of debate over giving public access of the land—located on Silver Lake Blvd. between Armstrong Ave. and Earl St.
   The current plan is a compromise position based on community input dating back to 1999 that leaves roughly half of the 6-acre meadow untouched and enclosed.
The public will be able to access the open land during daylight hours only.
   “It is a very fair compromise,” said Shelley Marks, Committee to Save Silver Lake Reservoir President. “There was concern about animals and habitat, and now there is no question they will be protected and we have 3 1/2 acres that we didn’t have before.”
The park will include a “smart” irrigation, a decorative fence to separate a walking path from the “meadow” and native plant landscaping.
   “I’m glad that this long-awaited project is progressing and that the Silver Lake community is working in partnership with us to ensure that the meadow is a peaceful, green place that will benefit the neighborhood,” said Council President Eric Garcetti.

Salon Opening Benefits Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic
by Michael Locke, Silver Lake Correspondent

Antonio Garcia of Silver Lake Studio and Tacy Padua, HSFC Executive Director at the Nov. 1st fundraiser.

SILVER LAKE—Owner Antonio Garcia, owner of Silver Lake Studio, celebrated the opening of his new salon on Sunset Boulevard with a benefit for the Hollywood-Sunset Free Clinic, Sat., Nov.1st.
   The clinic, for the last 40 years, provides free services to the homeless, working poor and unemployed in Silver Lake, Echo Park, East Hollywood and neighboring communities.
   “What a great event,” said clinic director Teresa “Tacy” Padua. “We are still contacting people with winning bids and the amount raised exceeds all our expectations… During these tough economic times, we need all the help we can get. I am especially grateful for this show of support from everyone who came out to support our cause.”